ROCHDALE HORNETS v LEIGH CENTURIONS

HORNETS face a test of character with this Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup fourth round confrontation with fellow Northern Ford Premiership hopefuls Leigh.

It's a game that is close to being the top of the bill, for the last time the two sides met at Hilton Park the match ended in a 14-14 draw. Which suggests this is a "winner takes all'' situation.

Rochdale are short of being at full strength with the club's leading try scorer Casey Mayberry ruled out with cracked ribs and solid centre Brendan O'Meara in need of treatment.

Team boss Martin Hall, disappointed with Hornets first defeat of the season at Dewsbury last week is never the less keen to bring his players back on track.

But he suggests: "We need to better our control of the ball and we need to sort out our defence.''

Hornets leaked 28 points to amateurs Farnworth two weeks ago and allowed Dewsbury too much freedom in the 25-20 defeat last week.

That won't have gone unnoticed at Leigh, where coach Paul Terzis has been planning his strategy since the draw was made.

"We are looking forward to the game. The players are up for it this time,'' said Terzis, who revealed that he is left with only 18 recognised first teamers fit for the clash.

Chris Irwin, Dave Whittle, Paul Anderson, Dave Ingram, Kieran Purtill and Lee Sanderson are all receiving treatment and are extremely doubtful, while prop Paul Norman is ruled out with a two-match suspension.

BARROW RAIDERS v WARRINGTON WOLVES

RAIDERS' boss Cameron Bell rates his chances of reaching the fifth round of the Challenge Cup as better than 50-50, even though they face Tetley's Super League side Warrington Wolves.

Bell is over the disappointment of losing face in the Northern Ford Premiership at Sheffield last week and sees the Cup game as a potential springboard back to form.

"I'm never over confident about any game, but we feel we can cause an upset if we play to our potential. Warrington had a Jekyl and Hyde season last year, so if we can keep them under pressure they may just crack,'' revealed Bell.

Barrow have only taken the spoils once in the five times that Barrow have met Warrington in the Challenge Cup count down and that was 80 years ago.

With centre Phil Atkinson the only doubt with a knee injury, Bell should be able to call on an unchanged squad, although he may well adjust his bench players.

However, prop Ian Rawlinson is a definite non-starter. He picked up a sternum injury and could miss at least two more games, according to Bell.

BATLEY BULLDOGS v LONDON BRONCOS

THE Bulldogs are preparing for their third Challenge Cup clash with Super League side London Broncos in four years and have yet to come out on top.

With second rower Andy Spink in need of treatment for a leg injury, coach Paul Storey is still weighing up his options, although he should have Roger Simpson and Dean Lawford back in positions that will no doubt strengthen his aims.

Lawford's return could be the key to Batley's possible success, for his kicking game will be an important factor if the Broncos are to be kept on the back foot.

But the Batley fans need to give their full support too if they wish to see their team go through to the next round.

Chief executive Ron Earnshaw warned: "London are not expected to bring many fans with them, so we will have to depend on the Batley supporters to give the game some atmosphere on the terraces.''

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS v HULL KR

UPBEAT Featherstone are in prime position to go through to the next round of the Cup, provided they can produce another gutsy performance.

Their main problems surround the fitness of ex-Castleford Tigers prop Ian Tonks, who has a deep groin injury. He is rated less than 50-50 for the game, but playmaker Danny Seal is expected to be fit.

Steve Dooler is also in a race against time after falling foul of food poisoning at the weekend, but his place could remain with Jim Carlton, who had a cracking game and scored the winning try against Whitehaven last week.

Hull KR coach Gary Wilkinson calls up Paul Fletcher, Jon Aston, Craig Murdock and Bob Everitt to strengthen his squad, but Murdock could miss out unless he recovers from a knee injury.

"It's always a terrific game between us and Featherstone. They are a very difficult side to beat at Post Office Road and with players like Jamie Rooney, Richard Chapman, Danny Seal and Nathan Graham in the side it will not be an easy task,'' said Wilkinson, who has nosed the Robins into fourth position in the NFP.

DONCASTER DRAGONS v HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS

CAN the Dragons go one better against the Giants?

That's the question Doncaster coach St John Ellis will ask of his players on Sunday.

Doncaster lost to Huddersfield in the Challenge Cup fourth round last season, and were on the losing end of their NFP confrontation last month. But it could be third time lucky, for the Dragons are a much-improved side of late.

Ellis feels his side are starting to come into form again after beating Batley quite convincingly last week. "This is a game we can win if we put our minds to it,'' he said.

With wingers Richard Baker and Richard Smith back in contention and utility back Chris Ross ready to resume after a hamstring problem, Doncaster should be almost at full strength.

The Giants may still be without loose forward Steve McNamara, but hooker Darren "Rocky'' Turner and second row forward Matt Walker came through their fitness tests and should play.

"The players are quietly going about their business and looking forward to the Cup-tie. We like the size of Doncaster's pitch, it suits us fine, but we will not be treating them as easy fish,'' said Giants coach Tony Smith.

CHORLEY LYNX v UTC (France)

CHORLEY don't aim to be the fall guys in this Cup clash, despite the fact that they face the French national champions

"It's a match we are relishing for more reasons than one. We are improving every week and I feel we can give them a game to remember,'' said coach Graeme West, whose Cup experiences were second to none during his playing days at Wigan.

Full back Mike Watts is ruled out with concussion, leaving West to possible switch Chris Ramsdale as last line of defence, with Simon Smith coming in at centre and Alan Reddecliffe coming in on the wing for Leroy Rivett, who has returned to Warrington Wolves following his short on-loan stay.

"I'm afraid UTC are an unknown quantity. We understand that they have five or maybe six French internationals in the side, but that's about it,'' said West, who will concentrate all his efforts on fine-tuning his Lynx players ahead of the game.

HUNSLET HAWKS v WORKINGTON TOWN

HAWKS boss Roy Sampson may have to sift through his playing register in order to find an 18-man squad after five of his key players reported for treatment.

Andy Wray, Paul Seal, Bryn Powell, Mick Coyle and Jonlee Lockwood are all on the treatment table, while full back Keiran Allen has been ruled out with a bad hamstring injury.

So it may well be a case of Sampson naming several "walking wounded'' in his plans, although prop Ben Skerrett could be fit from a virus problem.

Workington will check on centre Kevin Hetherington (hip), but coach Gary Murdock may have to rule out second row forward Alan Bone, who has been told to rest for a couple of weeks. Hooker Owen Williamson is also ruled out with a groin strain.

OLDHAM v ST HELENS

NEW Oldham boss John Harbin has been a busy man since taking over the reins.

But his first task is to try an conjure up a victory over Super League side and Cup holders St Helens, something which is perhaps not at the top of his immediate agenda.

Harbin's main ambition is no doubt to guide Oldham back to NFP glory, with this Cup game against the mighty Saints as purely incidental.

Oldham have been depleted of late with ex-Widnes forwards Simon Knox and Tommy Hodgkinson two of their main injury problems.

Both are ruled out of Sunday's equation, although Paul Norton is set to play after coming through last week's clash at Workington unscathed.

Ex-Warrington winger Will Cowell, who was in the squad that travelled to Cumbria last week, but didn't catch the side, will come in on the bench, but Anthony Gibbons has yet to regain his fitness.

WHITEHAVEN v DEWSBURY RAMS

THE Cumbrian stronghold will be put to the test by a rejuvenated Dewsbury on Sunday. And Whitehaven coach Paul Cullen is well aware of the dangers that the Rams can offer.

"We need to be on our mettle because Dewsbury will be a different side than that which we beat in the league a few weeks ago,'' said Cullen, who will be without Phil Sherwin (shoulder) and possibly full back Wesley Wilson.

Paul O'Neill will switch to full back if Wilson fails a fitness test, with Leigh Smith on standby for a place on the wing.

Dewsbury will run a check on centre Chris Chapman (groin), while Michael Wainwright is battling for fitness.

"We are starting to run into form again. The forwards are back to full fitness and it has proved a big difference to our game in the past few weeks,'' said coach Andy Fisher, who snapped up Gateshead forward Robin Jowett after he was released by the Thunder club this week.

SWINTON LIONS v WIDNES VIKINGS

THE Lions roar is more of a croak at the moment and that isn't good news going into such an important Cup game.

Team boss Tony Humphries has had a difficult time so far with the latest setback being the cancelled game at Gateshead last week.

"That didn't help our players one bit. We are desperately short of match practice and I fear that will be the key to Sunday's game against Widnes.''

Missing from the Swinton line-up is former Barrow utility player Anthony Murray, who has a previous family arrangement to attend to.

"It's a family wedding and Anthony can't miss it,'' explained Humphries, who will switch Karl Fitzpatrick, one of three on-loan signings from Widnes, to replace the absent Murray.

Hugh Thorpe, an ex-England University centre is expected to be named on the bench.

YORK WASPS v VILLENEUVE

THIS is a repeat of last season's clash when the French outfit pitched York out of the fourth round.

Wasps coach Leo Epifania is well aware of the massive task ahead of him: "We have got to put in a big effort if we want to be in with a chance.

"There doesn't seem to be much of a difference to the French side from last side, whereas we have quite a few new players, so hopefully that will sway the odds in our favour a bit,'' he said.

Prop Andy Precious is expected to be ruled out with a leg injury, but centre Carl Hall could return with Ian Kirke on the bench.

NFP LEAGUE GAME

KEIGHLEY COUGARS v GATESHEAD THUNDER

THE Cougars must start as favourites to win this re-arranged league game, after the problems that emerged at Gateshead last weekend.

With the Thunder bosses releasing more than a dozen of their West Yorkshire players from their contracts, along with coach Andy Kelly, it leaves them somewhat depleted in terms of playing strength.

So for the first time since he took over as coach at Keighley, Gary Moorby can say he has the upper hand before the start of the game.

Moorby is also in the throes of building a new Keighley side, but that shouldn't deter him from taking the spoils at Cougar Park.